Deeds Campaign: Abbey Still on Top

The Deeds gubernatorial campaign is shooting down a report by University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato that campaign manager Joe Abbey is keeping his title but is being supplanted by Monica Dixon, who headed Mark Warner's political action committee and has been serving as a senior advisor to the campaign since around the time of the primary.

"Joe Abbey is the campaign manager, and I work for him," Dixon said this afternoon.

A staff shake up might indicate the campaign is nervous about the direction of the race and looking for change. But communications director Mike Gehrke said the only change at the campaign in recent days has been the addition of Mo Elleithee, a Virginia veteran, as an advisor. The campaign announced that change Monday.

"Joe is in charge. He's the fearless leader. When he walks by, we salute," Gehrke said.